It’s a hotel with a twist – taking what was left behind and turning it into something beautiful and functional.
The Observatory Hotel – slated to open its doors on May 7 – uses the original University of Canterbury buildings and turns them into luxe living, with no two rooms alike.
Eleven years after Te Matatiki Toi Ora The Arts Centre was damaged extensively by the Canterbury earthquakes, next month’s opening of the boutique 33-room Observatory Hotel marks a significant milestone in central Christchurch’s regeneration.
As the former home of the original University of Canterbury, The Arts Centre is New Zealand’s largest collection of heritage buildings, however The Observatory Hotel is no museum.
The hotel’s interior designer Jessica Close has incorporated a wild mix of colour and lavish textures into the Arts and Crafts style that was in vogue at the time when the Gothic Revival buildings were constructed between the late 1800s and the early 20th century.
No two guestrooms are the same in size, layout or individual decor she says, due in part to how the hotel spans the original architecturally-distinct Physics, Observatory and Biology buildings.
“I liked the idea of visiting the hotel and being able to request a particular room that spoke to you.
“Every room has its own design scheme and personality.”
The interior styling is reminiscent of a large historic house but with a modern twist, including a lavish drawing room and library, and distinctive furnishings made by local craftspeople.
Arts Centre director Philip Aldridge draws attention to the hotel’s unique ‘campus’ offering “where you stay the night in the hotel but visit other places within The Arts Centre complex for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Guests have access to a boutique cinema with two theatres, two museums, and dozens of permanent galleries and stores dotted throughout the site – all supplemented by an active events calendar.
“It’s a unique offer – imagine sauntering through the quads and cloisters in the moonlight back to your room, surrounded by exquisite art and vibrant interior design at its best.”
Each room within the hotel features art for sale, curated by Jonathan Smart of The Central Art Gallery in the public spaces, and The Creators’ Room artwork in the guest rooms.
The hotel is named after the 1896 Observatory Tower.
National hotel operator Sarin was signed up nearly five years ago following a contestable pitch. In its favour the family-owned company had experience running hotels for brands such as Hilton, Intercontinental Hotels Group and Accor yet remains a boutique, independent operator. In Christchurch the Sarins operate The Muse – another arts hotel – with an expanding portfolio of other hotels in Christchurch and around the country.
“This is unlike any other hotel we’ve been involved in,” says Sarin Group chairman Raman Sarin.
“It’s very much a turn-key operation where The Arts Centre has designed everything, right down to choosing the teaspoons.
“We’re thrilled to be involved because it’s such a unique property, and we understand how important it is that the hotel integrates perfectly into not just The Arts Centre environment but also the broader canvas of central Christchurch.”
The hotel offers a highly personalised and hosted 24/7 experience. As you arrive, check in is via the drawing room, surrounded by artworks in a luxurious lodge-style setting. Fully contactless online check-in / check-out is also available, where communication with service staff occurs via guests’ preferred messaging app.
Individual guest rooms are named according to their unique colour and décor – such as the Rose Madder, the Veridian and the Malachite – and can be booked directly on the hotel’s website.
“It all adds up to a unique experience from the moment a guest walks through our doors, till the time they check out,” says Raman.
“We are confident our guests will become ambassadors for the The Observatory Hotel, spreading the word about the un-matched experience they received.”
